Egypt's economic problems highlighted by striking workers

Four hundred of Egypt's gas bill collectors go into their 15th day on strike over better wages.

Four hundred of Egypt's gas bill collectors go into their 15th day on strike over better wages.

The workers are employed by NATGAS, a private company, which collects gas bills in three Cairo districts as well as in 13 other governorates on behalf of the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS).

"But actually, we only get a basic salary of LE400, a transportation allowance of LE150 and LE200 per month as profit sharing," assures Abul-Gheit, who has been working as a bill collector for three years.

Labor action has become a regular affair in the Egyptian workplace since the January 2011 uprising ousted President Mubarak. The much-celebrated uprising handed the impoverished Egyptian population rosy promises of prosperity and financial ease under a new regime. A looming financial crises and a persistent recession, however, are showing how unrealistic such expectations were.

NATGAS’s management was very reluctant to comment on the issue.

Mohamed Rashwan, managing director of NATGAS refused to comment. "I will not discuss the company secrets over the phone," he told Ahram Online.

"The administration had a meeting with the workers and we clarified everything but they insist on maintaining the strike", said Abdel-Rahman El-Sharkawi, financial manager, refusing to give further details.